Words:

fixated    adjective

unable to stop thinking about something: thinking hard about something all the time  

I am fixated on making tomorrow better

a nation fixated on the past

Back in London , he became fixated with his best friend's daughter.

fixation    noun [C]

an unnaturally strong interest in a particular person or thing

Liz has a fixation UK with / US on food.

Again Cagney was at his twisted best in White Heat, playing a psychopath with a mother fixation .

Jen has a fixation on food.

She's got an unhealthy fixation with her weight.

fussy (NOT EASILY SATISFIED)    adjective DISAPPROVING

not easily satisfied; having very high standards or very fixed standards about particular things:

All my children were fussy eaters.

He's so fussy about the house - everything has to be absolutely perfect.

"I haven't met a man I've fancied for ages!" "You're too fussy - that's your problem!"

She's really fussy about who she goes out with.

Kevin's a fussy eater .

She's a very fussy eater.

fussy (TOO HIGHLY DECORATED)    adjective DISAPPROVING

having too much decoration and too many small details, in a way that is not stylish:

They've got those curtains that tie up with big bows - they're a bit fussy for my taste.

My new dress is sophisticated but not too fussy .

fussily    adverb

in a fussy way

fussily decorated

fussiness    noun [U]

I'm not fussy/fussed UK INFORMAL

something that you say when you would be satisfied with either choice that is offered you:

"Red wine or white?" "I'm not fussy - either would be lovely."



nerd    noun [C] INFORMAL DISAPPROVING

a person, especially a man, who is unattractive and awkward or socially embarrassing: a person who lacks social skills, esp. someone interested in technical things  

He was a real nerd in high school - I can't believe he's so handsome now.

Gina's brother is a complete nerd .



nerdy    adjective INFORMAL DISAPPROVING

boring and not fashionable

He's nice, but kind of nerdy .

These glasses make me look/feel nerdy

He was a short, nerdy guy with glasses.

shatter   verb

1 [I or T] to (cause something to) break suddenly into very small pieces:

The glass shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.

His leg was shattered in the accident.

The earthquake shattered all the windows in the building.

(FIG.) To shatter can also mean to end or damage: The defeat shattered her confidence.

Someone threw a stone at the car, shattering the windscreen.



2 [T] to end or severely damage something good, such as your confidence, hopes, or belief in something:

The book shattered all her illusions about the Romans.

Noisy motorbikes shattered the peace .

The accident completely shattered her confidence

shattered    adjective

1 broken into very small pieces:

Shattered glass lay all over the road.

2 extremely upset:

The family were shattered at the news of Annabel's suicide.



shattering    suffix

a confidence - shattering defeat (= one which destroys confidence) .

earth-shattering   adjective ( ALSO earth-shaking )

extremely important or very surprising:

an earth-shattering discovery

world-shattering    adjective ( ALSO world-shaking )

extremely surprising and important, often changing the way you think about something:

world-shattering news.

knack  noun [S]

a skill or an ability to do something easily and well:

a knack for remembering faces

She has the knack of mak ing people feel comfortable.

There's a knack to us ing this corkscrew.

a knack for remembering faces

She has the knack of making people feel comfortable.

knick-knack , nick-nack    noun [C usually plural]

a small decorative object, especially in a house:

The shelves were covered with ornaments and useless knick - knacks .

  hostile (UNFRIENDLY)    adjective

showing strong dislike; unfriendly  

Her parents were openly hostile to me.

a hostile crowd

The President had a hostile reception in Ohio this morning.

I'm not hostile to (= against) the idea of change as such.

Some politicians were very hostile to the idea.



hostile (DIFFICULT)    adjective

difficult or not suitable for living or growing:

hostile weather conditions

a hostile climate/environment

The Nevada desert is one of the most hostile regions in America .

a hostile climate

hostile (ENEMY / WARLIKE )
adjective [before noun]

connected with the enemy in a war:

hostile aircraft/ships/forces

The enemy was preparing to take hostile action.



hostility    noun [U] FORMAL  

They showed open (= obvious) hostility to/towards their new neighbours.

He tried to hide his hostility

hostilities    plural noun FORMAL

fighting in a war:

Hostilities began/broke out just after midnight.

Hostilities were suspended (= fighting stopped temporarily) during the talks.

Both sides were trying to avoid further hostilities.

jeopardize verb [T]

to put something such as a plan or system in danger of being harmed or damaged:

She knew that by failing her exams she could jeopardize her whole future.

She knew that failing her exams could jeopardize her whole future.

Bad weather could jeopardize all our plans

jeopardy   
noun

in jeopardy in danger of being damaged or destroyed:

The lives of thousands of birds are in jeopardy as a result of the oil spillage.

Bad investments have put the company's future in jeopardy .